Gift sat between Payton’s knees, the other boy’s arms around him from behind. Park no longer felt that tell-tale tug of jealousy now that he knew Payton had never had any interest in Gift. If anything, he felt a little grateful. To all of them. They were providing the distraction Gift needed. One Park hadn’t been able to provide.
He stayed out of their way, watching from a distance, as they all swore they would find who was behind this and get vengeance in Gift’s name. Park was half-ready to let them. They’d had to put poor Madison’s death investigation on hold as they all refused to focus on anything but Gift.
Park realized now that there was nowhere safer for Gift than there, amongst half a dozen psychopaths and the people chosen to be their conscience. If they’d been with him in the gym yesterday, Aspen wouldn’t have stood a chance. But Gift had held his own. He’d done brilliantly. With minimal training, and with all the odds stacked against him, he’d come out on top with only a few cuts to show for it.
Maybe Gift had more of Anchali in him than he thought.
The first call came in at a little past ten in the morning. It was Archer.
“Can you talk?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
“Meet me in Boone’s office. I want to show you something.”
Park frowned, glancing over at Gift, who was smiling, hands threaded with Payton’s where they rested on his belly. “Yeah, I’ll be there in ten.”
Park disconnected, then crouched down beside Gift. “I need to go talk to Archer,ouen. Will you be okay for a bit?”
“Don’t worry,” Dove said. “We’ll take care of him for you, Park.”
The others all nodded solemnly. Park didn’t think twice about leaning over and pressing a kiss to Gift’s lips. “Do not leave this room.”
“Yes,hia,” Gift said quietly, cheeks pinking prettily.
Park looked at Payton. The boy met his gaze, expression borderline hostile, like he was expecting to be told to stop touching Gift. Instead, Park said, “I’m trusting you to keep him safe. Do not let him out of your sight for any reason. If he has to go to the bathroom, you go together.”
Payton’s eyes widened, but then he nodded. “I promise I won’t let anyone near him.”
Park nodded once, gave Gift another kiss—on the temple this time—and then left. The more distance between them, the harder something tugged at him, like an invisible cord tied them together. Being away from him—no matter how much he trusted his group to keep Gift safe—was painful.
He didn’t knock before entering Boone’s office. The man sat behind his desk looking like he’d been through a war. He was wearing the same clothes as yesterday, his hair a mess, like he’d been brushing his fingers through it. Archer sat in one of the two chairs on the other side of Boone’s desk, while Mac leaned against the far wall, arms crossed over his wide chest.
“Did you find something?” Park asked.
Archer tapped a file underneath his fingers, then pointed to the empty seat. Park fell into it, reaching for the file. Archer held firm. “Are you sure you want to know any of this?”
Park fixed him with a hard stare, then yanked the file from under his hand. Inside were dozens of photocopied, handwritten notes, all in Thai. It was a medical chart. Anchali’s medical chart. From the night of Gift’s birth. Park skimmed the notes.
Twenty-seven-year-old pregnant female. Gunshot wound to the abdomen. Approximately thirty-six weeks gestation. Emergency c-section performed to attempt to save the life of the mother. Fetus female. Dead on arrival. Surgery to remove a bullet lodged six millimeters from the spine successful, patient still unconscious but stable.
Fetus female.
Dead on arrival.
“Her baby died,” Park muttered. “Her baby was a girl.”
“Which begs the question, where did she get Gift?” Boone asked.
“Kendrick,” Park muttered.
Boone raised a brow. “What?”
“Kendrick. It has to be. Who else knew Gift was adopted other than Satja?” Park asked.
“Why would Kendrick help Anchali adopt a baby?” Mac asked.
Park deflated against the chair, scrubbing his hands over his face. “Fuck if I know. None of this makes any goddamn sense. Anchali was upset when she found out she was pregnant. Even contemplated an abortion. Satja was the only reason she decided to keep the baby.”
